CBS won't let go of liberal efforts against the new immigration
enforcement law in Arizona. A night after Katie Couric focused on "the
backlash against Arizona's new immigration law. San Francisco bans
official travel to that state," she teased Thursday's CBS Evening News
by trumpeting a lawsuit against it from a lone police officer: "The
latest response to Arizona's new immigration law? Sue the state. We'll
tell you who is." She soon cited how "the first lawsuits were filed
today challenging it, including one by a Tucson police officer[1] who claims the law
is unconstitutional."

Reporter Bill Whitaker presumed Arizona has earned "notoriety,"
instead of popularity for a law with majority support, as he began:

Six days after Arizona gained notice and notoriety with
the toughest anti-immigration law in the country, protests are
building, opposing sides are hardening, outside pressure is mounting.
Today opponents turned on a little star power: Mexican-American singer
Linda Ronstadt spoke out....She endorsed the first of what's likely
to be a flurry of opposition lawsuits.

The law doesn't take effect for several months, Whitaker noted, "but
many citizens say it's having a chilling effect already. Listen as
we talk to this immigrant rights worker." Viewers then heard a male
voice: "Why don't you go back to Mexico if it's so great, man?" Whitaker
acknowledged some local governments "are pushing for Arizona-style
immigration laws," but countered with how "many more cities are
lining up in opposition. Dozens are threatening to cut all business ties
with Arizona."

Oh, and this was Whitaker's last sentence: "Just yesterday, the U.S.
Border Patrol picked up 105 immigrants crossing the border near Tucson
illegally."

Just as on Wednesday, the soundbites ran 4-to-1 against Arizona's
law.

The story on the Thursday, April 29 CBS Evening News, transcript
provided by the MRC's Brad Wilmouth:

KATIE COURIC: Turning now to Arizona's new immigration
law, the first lawsuits were filed today challenging it, including one
by a Tucson police officer who claims the law is unconstitutional. And
despite continuing protests, other states may actually follow Arizona's
lead. From Phoenix tonight, here's Bill Whitaker.

BILL WHITAKER: Six days after Arizona gained notice and notoriety
with the toughest anti-immigration law in the country, protests are
building, opposing sides are hardening, outside pressure is mounting.
Today opponents turned on a little star power: Mexican-American singer
Linda Ronstadt spoke out.

LINDA RONSTADT: The dirty little secret is I'm probably
not the one that would be pulled over because I'm light-skinned.

WHITAKER: She endorsed the first of what's likely to be a flurry of
opposition lawsuits.

ALESSANDRA SOLER MEETZE, AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF AMERICA:
We will be devoting our collective resources to stopping this bill from
taking effect.

WHITAKER: The controversial law requires police in Arizona to demand
proof of citizenship of anyone they suspect is in the U.S. illegally. It
takes effect this summer, but many citizens say it's having a chilling
effect already. Listen as we talk to this immigrant rights worker.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE VOICE: Why don't you go back to Mexico
if it's so great, man?

SALVADOR REZA, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST: That's what this law is causing.
It's causing the division and bringing out the worst, the worst in
people.

WHITAKER: Citing crime rates and the cost of social services, the
mayor of Costa Mesa, California, and legislators in Ohio and Texas, say
they are pushing for Arizona-style immigration laws.

STATE REP. DEBBIE RIDDLE (R-TX): The citizens are sick and tired of
political correctness. They want, they want to take their country back.

WHITAKER: But many more cities are lining up in opposition. Dozens
are threatening to cut all business ties with Arizona. Already at least
eight conventions have pulled out of Phoenix in protest. The city could
lose up to $45,000 on each.

JEFF FRANKLIN, RESIDENT OF SUNRISE, ARIZONA: I work in the hotel
business, and know for a fact that there are several cancellations
already in the pipe for several hotels in Arizona.

WHITAKER: Arizona has gone through this kind of economic
pressure before. In 1987, when the state refused to observe the national
Martin Luther King holiday, there was a national boycott. The Superbowl
pulled out of Tempe. It all cost the state $300 million. Then, Arizona
backed down. This time, state lawmakers plan to hang tough. Why? Because
of this: Just yesterday, the U.S. Border Patrol picked up 105
immigrants crossing the border near Tucson illegally.

- Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at
the Media Research Center. Click
here[6] to follow him on Twitter.

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